How to lose weight post-menopause?

by Carole
(US)

I'm 66, 5ft 1, 160lb and can't get below that. I eat between 1200-1400 cals, exercise every day either walking or walk tapes and CANNOT LOSE...

Maybe I'm not getting enough exercise. I'm out of meno being 66 and I think this is gonna be my body...and I don't like it or want it. I don't want to sit back and accept my body like a lot of people my age do, and so I'm trying to beat it, with not much success, as you can see. The only thing I'm not really doing is the strength exercises..to tell you the truth that type of exercise doesn't really appeal to me. But if everyone thinks it will make a difference then I have to at least try.

Elizabeth's reply

The weight loss approach that works for many women in midlife is to switch to small meals spread through the day, so that blood sugar never drops too low. Don't go on low-calorie slimming diets as these just encourage your body to store fat. Switch to a healthy diet and drop junk food.

Added to this pattern, you need up to 5 hours of aerobic exercise a week and 1 hour of strength-building exercise to help you lose fat and build muscle. The third thing to consider is stress - if you are very stressed your body will produce the hormone cortisol, which lays down fat around the midriff. Learn about relaxation techniques and do your best to reduce stress in your life.

The strength training exercises could benefit you, because muscle burns more calories than fat, so putting more muscle on to your body via exercise does make it easier to lose weight and is good for your strength and mobility longterm.

Try to build these changes into your life gradually, and lose the weight slowly - it's much better that way.